Electronic Value Exchange audiobook cover - Origins of the VISA Electronic Payment System

Electronic Value Exchange

Origins of the VISA Electronic Payment System

David L. Stearns

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Electronic Value Exchange
Pre-Visa Credit History+
Dee Ward Hock & Chaordic Vision+
Forming NBI (Visa's Precursor)+
Technological Innovations+
Global Expansion & Hock's Exit+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 6
What is the fundamental nature of Visa as described in the text?
  • A. A massive, centralized government utility for handling global currency exchanges.
  • B. A standalone credit company that issues personal loans and plastic cards directly to consumers.
  • C. An organization that provides a framework for competing banks to cooperate and trust each other.
  • D. A subsidiary of Bank of America designed to monopolize the global credit market.
Question 2 of 6
How did the Diners Club charge card, introduced in 1949, differ from earlier department store and gas station cards?
  • A. It was the first payment card to be made entirely out of plastic instead of paper or cardboard.
  • B. It was issued by a third-party company designed to make a profit, rather than just to inspire customer loyalty.
  • C. It allowed customers to carry a revolving balance with interest rather than paying the full bill each month.
  • D. It was backed by a coalition of regional banks rather than a single corporate entity.
Question 3 of 6
What unique organizational philosophy did Dee Ward Hock apply when restructuring the failing BankAmericard system into National BankAmericard Inc. (NBI)?
  • A. A highly centralized, top-down bureaucratic structure to maintain strict control over member banks.
  • B. A strict corporate hierarchy where Bank of America held permanent veto power over all decisions.
  • C. A government-subsidized franchise model that eliminated financial risk for participating banks.
  • D. A "chaordic" system that relied on shared purpose and principles, allowing member banks to self-organize.
Question 4 of 6
What were the primary functions of the BASE I and BASE II technological systems developed by NBI?
  • A. BASE I automated transaction authorizations, while BASE II automated the clearing and settling of transactions.
  • B. BASE I established international currency exchange rates, while BASE II monitored individual consumer credit scores.
  • C. BASE I tracked fraudulent merchants, while BASE II generated the physical magnetic strips for the credit cards.
  • D. BASE I managed customer billing and statements, while BASE II handled the distribution of new plastic cards.
Question 5 of 6
In the context of the 1970s payment card industry, what did the term "duality" refer to?
  • A. The ability of a credit card to function as both a credit line and a direct debit from a checking account.
  • B. The division of Visa's operations into separate domestic (NBI) and international (Ibanco) organizations.
  • C. The condition where banks were legally permitted to belong to and issue cards for both NBI (Visa) and Interbank (MasterCard).
  • D. The technological shift from paper sales drafts to dual-purpose electronic magnetic strip authorizations.
Question 6 of 6
Why was Dee Ward Hock eventually forced out of Visa in 1984?
  • A. He was implicated in a massive fraud scandal involving the automated clearinghouse system.
  • B. He lost a major antitrust lawsuit that forced Visa to dissolve its international branch, Ibanco.
  • C. He initiated projects like debit cards, traveler's checks, and direct retailer partnerships that made Visa look like a competitor to its member banks.
  • D. His failure to implement the BASE systems caused member banks to lose millions of dollars to criminals.

Electronic Value Exchange — Full Chapter Overview

Electronic Value Exchange Summary & Overview

Electronic Value Exchange (2011) follows the story of Dee Ward Hock, a junior college graduate from a low-income family who created one of the most important financial organizations the world has ever seen: Visa. With historical context about America’s banking system and early credit cards, it reveals how BankAmericard went from near disaster to global success – and became the trusted Visa card we all know today.

Who Should Listen to Electronic Value Exchange?

  • Anyone interested in the global financial system
  • Students of organizational practices and joint ventures
  • History buffs curious about the connection between technology and money

About the Author: David L. Stearns

David L. Stearns is a senior lecturer at the University of Washington. His work has also appeared in publications including Response, Mercury, and BMC Bioinformatics.

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